Counter equipment



April 19, 1938.. F. M. THOMAS 2,114,510

COUNTER EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 11, 1935 YIIIIIIII/III/II 'V/Y g g 14 INVENTOR. 151d M TIwma/S;

. W NWT HZS ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE COUNTER EQUIPMENT Ford M. Thomas, Bristol, Vt.

Application December 11, 1935, Serial No. 53,840

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to display counters and embodies, more specifically, a counter construction utilizing false bottoms by means of which display of goods is facilitated while main- 5; taining inventories at a substantially minimum value. In counters of this character the false bottoms have heretofore been provided in one or more unit sizes and arranged upon the counter with glass partitions therebetween in order 6 that goods of different character may be dis-.

played within the spaces formed by the partitions.

In counter constructions of this character, it has heretofore been proposed to provide false 1'5 bottoms extending from the front to the back of the counter, recesses being formed at either side of these bottoms to receive and adjustably position partition supporting clips by means of which transverse or crosswise extending glass partitions may be supported effectively to form compartments of the proper size. In this fashion, the variety of sizes of the false bottoms is substantially reduced and the amount of glass required for the longitudinal or cross partitions greatly reduced inasmuch as no necessity exists for extending such cross or longitudinal partitions down to the counter surface between adjacent false bottoms, as was necessary in counter constructions originally designed. The front 3 to back, or transverse glass partitions, however, are necessarily extended between adjacent false bottoms and rested upon the surface of the counter in order to provide adequate anchorage and positioning of these front to back partition mems bers.

3 It is an object of the present invention to provide a counter construction including false bottoms wherein a substantial .amount of glass heretofore required in the front to back partitions 40 is saved.

A further object of the invention is to provi-de, in combination with a false bottom construction for a counter, a front to back partition mounting structure by means of which a 45 substantial saving in glass is effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a false bottom construction by means of which front to back partition members may be supported directly upon the false bottoms rather r than upon the counter surface.

Further objects of the invention will appear as it is described in further detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a counter 55 provided with partition members and false bottoms constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a partial view in section, similar to Figure 2, showing a modified partition supporting structure;

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation, showing a partition supporting clip which may be used 1 in connection with the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a partial View taken on line 5-5 of Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

With reference to the above drawing, a counter isshown at ID as provided with a counter surface ll upon which a plurality of false bottoms H! are adapted to be received. These false bo-ttoms are formed of panels I2 which have integrally formed thereon depending supporting bars l2 preferably extending from front to back of the counter and are each provided with a plurality of apertures l3 within which partition supporting clips M are adapted to be received. These clips may follow constructions now available in so far as the glass engaging portions thereof are concerned and, to this end, may be formed with opposed spring plates I 5 between which the glass cross partitions [6 are received. Posts I! .are formed on the clips l4 and are received within the apertures I3, as will be readily understood.

In accordance with the construction shown in Figure 2, the posts I! of the clips M are so spaced with respect to the back wall l8 of the clips that the back wall will be spaced from the adjacent side IQ of a false bottom a distance equal to half the thickness of a front to back glass partition member 20. In this fashion, when two false bottoms are positioned side by side, as shown in Figure 2, and the clips and transverse partition members positioned, also as shown in Figure 2, the space between opposed clips M will be just suflicient to receive the front to back partition members 20. These partition members 5 rest upon the adjacent surfaces of the false bottoms and thus a substantial amount of glass is saved over existing structures wherein it has been necessary to extend the front to back partition members down to the counter surface H.

In the construction shown in Figure 3, the sides of the false bottoms are formed with rabbets 2! which extend inwardly from the sides of the respective false bottoms a distance equal to half the thickness of the front to back partition members 20. In this fashion, a roove is formed by adjacent rabbets 2| which is of sufficient thickness to receive such partition members which are thus effectively positioned as illustrated in Figure 3. In such case, the clips l4 should be so formed that the distance between the backs I8 thereof and the posts I! is equal to the distance between the edge of the false bottoms and the recesses adjacent thereto in order that the backs of the clips may be flush with the vertical side of the rabbet in the false bottom.

It will be seen that this formation provides an effective anchorage for the front to back partition members 20, at the same time effecting a substantial saving in glass over existing constructions.

In order that the false bottoms may be maintained effectively in a partition supporting position, U-shaped clips 22 are provided, spanning the distance between adjacent holes I3 in adjacent false bottoms, being provided with downwardly extending portions 23 to be received in such holes 13, thus maintaining the false bottoms positively in the position shown in the drawing. In the case of the construction shown in Figure 3, U-shaped clips 24 are provided having upwardly extending arms 25 which engage the inner surfaces of the side members of the false bottoms and maintain the same in the position shown in Figure '3.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A counter construction including a counter having false bottoms thereon, and rabbet formations in the sides at the upper edges of the false bottoms, whereby a groove will be formed between adjacent false bottoms to receive a. front to back partition.

2. A counter construction including a counter having false bottoms, clips having means to position longitudinally extending partitions, recesses extending from the tops of the false bottoms into the sides and adjacent the side edges thereof, rabbet formations in the sides at the upper edges of the false bottoms to form grooves between adjacent false bottoms to receive a front to back partition, and posts on the clips to engage the recesses and cause the clips to be aligned with the adjacent edges of the rabbets, whereby the space between adjacent clips cooperates with the groove to receive and position a front to back partition between the ends of adjacent longitudinal partitions.

3. A counter construction including a counter having false bottoms, consisting of bottom panels having integrally formed downwardly extending supporting bars, recesses extending from the tops of said bottom panels into and adjacent the sides of said supporting bars, clips having back and side portions to position longitudinally extending partitions, posts on the clips to engage the recesses and space the clips from the planes of the sides of the said false bottoms, the spacing of the recesses from the adjacent planes of the sides of the false bottoms, and the distance between the posts and the back portions of the clips being such as to provide space between adjacent clips to receive and position front to back partitions.

FORD M. THOMAS. 

